Apparatus for use in tabulating systems.



H. HOLLERITH.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TABULATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906.

Patented June 25, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WiTNESSES:

H. HOLLERITH.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TABULATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906.

Patented June 25, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i.3%iwiiilii 1 OOOQ H OOCOOO WITNESSES:

H. HOLLEEITH.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TABULATING SYSTBMS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 27, 1906.

1,030,305, Patented June 25, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

H. HOLLERITH.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TABULATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY27, 1906.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Q S S S 2% SS 2% 3% S S S WITNESSES: INVENTOR jW/IJ ,Z AQ WM 5 M BY ATTORNEYS 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5' Patented June 25, 1912.

H. HOLLEEITH.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TABULATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906.

1 ttest Q "i M Inventor W Atty ITEI) STATES a T FFEE; I

nnnnnnnounm'rmor. GARRETT max, mamas, assiciioa 1m Erna wanunarma I IA CHINE COMPKNY, A CORIEQRATION OF NEW Application filed July 27, 1906. SeriaINo. 328-,076.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN HoLLEnrrH,

.a citizen of the United States, residing at Garrett Park, Montgomery county, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Tabulating Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speclfication.

This invention relates to the Hollerith tabulating system, a distinguishing feature of which is the employment of a record-card having index-points, such as punched holes, which are located on each record in predetermined positions and in accordance with the data whicheach record-card represents.

The object of my present invention, of which I have shown a preferred form in the drawings, is primarily to provide means and apparatus for use in the tabulation of population statistics where each individual represents an item or unit to be counted in accordance with the particular characteristics of the individual, such as race, nativity, sex, occupation, age, etc. In the compilation of statistics, the characteristics according to which the individuals or items are counted or the records tabulated may be as comprehensive as the predetermined plan of compilation may require, but for the purposeof avoiding unnecessary prolixity of descrips clearly understood,'but may be elaborated to any desired extent as previously explained and it is not my intention .to limit'm'y invention to the'tabulation of population statistics. v In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, a portion of a typical but not an essential form of tabulat- .ing holes Fig. 2' shows, diagrammatically another portion thereof; Fig. 3 shows arecord-card in simplified form; F ig. 4 showsapparatus for classifying or sorting the record-cards, the sorting devices being'shown in elevation; Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the sorting guide actuators on a larger scale; Fig. 6 is ingv apparatus embodying" my invention I Specification of Letters fatent. l J i a plan view of the'sorting mechanism; Fig.

7 is a modification of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating means for classifying the records or rejecting records upon which the data or characteristicsare unusual or inconsistent so that they may be readily noted or compared with the original records for correction if necessary. Fig. 10 is a view in ele vation of one form of apparatus embodying my invention and Fig. 11 is a partial plan view thereof on the line 11-11 (Fig; 10),

showing the conducting blades 28 and 2 9 in a different position;

Similarreference characters are employed to designate like parts in all the views.

Each index-point position of a column represents a different characteristic of the individuals to be counted, and in practice provision should be made for a'more elaborate recording of these characteristics, but in the simple example which I shall first employ in describing the operation of my invention," only six of these index-point poforeign born, native born, colored and white respectively and the two index-point posimales and males respectively. In the par ticular record-card shown in Fig. 3, the index-points are shown as formedin the positions marked n and the left hand column, and in the position marked f in the middle column, the record thus representing a native, white female.

are usually and preferably formed by punch tions.

The index-points at the proper index-point posi-j as si-tions are assumed to be utilized to wit: the four index-point positions in the left hand column marked a, n, c,and w, representing '90 tions of the middle column, representing fe- I Referring to Fig. 1, a number of the rec- I ordecards 1 are placed on edge, similarly positioned on a platform 2 and are fed one by one,.by means of a reciprocating feed knife carriedby a cross-head 3, feed rollers 4, rotating conducting drum 5, past recordcontrolled circuit controlling devices which in the form'of apparatus shown are'conducting brushes 6" and 7, each of which forms one terminal of an electric circuit. The ends of the brushes are slightly 'resilient and rest normally on the conducting surface of the drum 5 which by means of a brush 8 is connected with the opposite terminal of a circuit. The cross-head 3 is reciprocated by a crank-disk 9 with which it is connected by the connecting-rod 10. The crank-disk is constantl driven in s'ynchronism with the feed rol ers, drum and other parts of the apparatus to be described, by a suitable motor 11. The brushes 6 and 7 are insulated from each other and are so located that the end of the brushfi traverses the index-point positions of the left hand column on the record-cards, and the brush 7 traverses the positions of the middle column as the cards are fed past them. Only two of these circuit controllin devices are illustrated, but it will be an erstood that there should be one for each operative column of index-point ositions, and each one of the circuit-control ing devices is common to a column of index-point positions, which expression I employ to briefly denote the fact that each of the said circuit-controlling devices is adapted to be actuated to open or close an electrical circuit by an index-point punched at any index-point posit-ion in its column. the motor 11 in synchronism with the feeding apparatus is arranged toactuate the contacts 15 to open and hold open the circuit from the battery 16 during the intervals between the moving cards, but permits the contacts to close the circuit just as the edge of an advancing card passes between the brushes 6 and 7 and the drum 5, the contacts remaining closed until just as the card is about to pass from under the brushes, when the cam 14 again opens the contacts 15. When the advancing edge of a recordcard passes between the drum and' the brushes it carries the ends of the brushes out of contact with the drum, but when an index-point or punched hole reaches a brush the latter will contact with the drum through the hole momentarily while the hole passes under the brush.

The specfic object of my present invention is the operation of a tabulating device, which term I employ, in a measure arbitrarily, to designate the counters or registers shown in Fig. 2, the sorting guides shown in Fig. 4 or the selecting devices shown in Figs. 8 and 9, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the particular form of apparatus embodying my invention shown in the drawings the operation of each of these tabulating devices is controlled by an electro-mag- A cam 14 constantly driven by' net controlled by a record-controlled device .common to a plurality of index-point positions each representing a different characteristic of the item or unit, and means are employed for actuating or controlling the action of each of these tabulating devices only through the medium of its appropriate index-point or points, comprising a commutating device consisting of a number of sections or rings 18, 19, one for each of the circuit-closing brushes. Each section of the commutating device consists of a conducting segment 20 and a plurality of conducting contacts 22, one for each index-point position of the record-card, separated by suitable non-conducting material 23.

' Although for the sake of ,clearness I have shown the sections or rings 18 and 19 as arranged in differentaxial planes, they are to be mounted in a fixed position in axial alinement concentrically with the shaft 25, andare separated sufliciently from each other to permit the operation of conducting blades 28 and 29 which are mounted on the rotatin shaft 25, driven by the motor 11, in s'ync-hronism with the card feeding means, so that one arm of the switch blades will traverse all the conducting contacts 22 of its section as the index-point positions; of each record-card pass under the brushes, that is to say when the index-point positions at the bottom of the columns are under the brushes one end of the switch blades 28 and 29 will be in contact with the first or 'top conducting contacts of all the sections while the other ends of the blades will be in con tact with the conducting segments and will conductively connect the top contact points with the segments in all the sections, and as the card passes down, the contact points will be successively connected with the segments as the succes'sive indeX-point positions pass the brushes. The top and bottom-non-conducting segments 23 (Fig. 1) are longer than the non-conducting sections of the commutator rings which separate the conducting contacts 22 from each other and are so proportioned that the switch blades will be in contact with them during the intervals between the cards or rather between the last index-point position of one card and the first index-point position of the succeeding card. The switch blades 28 and 29 are preferably slightly resilient so as to furnish or points cooperate therewith, willanswer the same purpose;

- is controIled by the relay contacts to actuate theele'ctro-m'agnet or magnetswhich operate or control the operation ofthe tabulating devices, and which I have designated generally by the character 41. For the sake of clearness I'have illustrated these as independent circuits and' in separate diagrams, the complete circuit 40 which actuates the relay magnets being shown in Fig. 1, while the complete circuit or circuits 41 whichactuates the magnets of the tabulating de-' vice are shown in Fi 2. -The terminals of the circuit 41 are in icated as connected to the relay contacts in Fig. 1, and the terminals'of the circuit 40 are similarly shown as connected to the relay magnets in Fig. 2. But in this connection, I desire to state, that wide variations may be made in the arrangement of circuits and connections, and that mechanically operating devices may be emloyed in carrying out my invention, as, for instance, by the substitution of mechanically operating devices for the relay magnets employed to hold the circuits under control as will be presently described. These and other modifications within the scope and spirit'of my invention will however naturally occur to those skilled in the art and for this reason I deem it inadvisable toset forth in the proper limits of this specification such vpossible modifications in detail since they involve no departure from myinvention.

Referring to Fig. 1,0f the drawings, each of the operative contact points 22 of the commutator sections is connected with the coils of one of the electro-magnets 50-55 provided with relay contacts, which as the contacts are placed in series with the magnet coils when the magnet is actuated, I.

term series relay magnets. Each of the magnets 50 is connected with one'or more relay magnets 5665, it being understood that in this particular form of apparatus there will be one series relay and one crmorc rela T magnets for each index-point position utilized inthe scheme of tabulation em loyed.

he relay. contacts of the magnets 5665 are actuated to control the counter circuits 41, one or more of them being arranged in series with each of the magnets 75 which actuate the registering counters 77-82 shown in Fig. 2,

From the foregoing description it will lie-understood that in the particular form of apparatus illustrated in Fi 1, when conj in Fig. 3 and representing a native, white."

femalqtheindex-point positions at the bot:-

tom. of the columns" come under the brushes as the card is feddownward, tlna'fswitch- 1 blades of the commutator will be in contact :at one end with' ztheir, conductingStripsQO' and at the other'with the topcontact points 22 of their respective commutator sections.- 1Asthe bottom hole to, representing white is punched in the left hand column, when this index-point comes underthe brush 6 the'latter will contact with the drum 5" and close'a circuit through the switch blade 28, top contact point 22of the sectionIS, the coils of the series relay magnet 50 and relay magnet 56 to the other side of the line, energizing themagnets 50 and 56 (see also F ig.'- 2) and closing the relay contacts of those magnets. As soonas the contacts of magnet 50 are closed a circuit will be closed throughthe conductor 42, which also includes the coils of the magnets, and the relay contacts will be held closed notwithstanding that the circuit from the brush is broken as soon as the index-point w passes the brush. As the will contact with the drum 5 through the index-pointf, representing female in the middle column closing a circuit through the switch blade 29, the second contact oint in the commutator section 19, series re ay contacts of the magnet 55 and the relay con tacts of magnets 63, 64 and 65. The indexpoint n, representing native in the .left

hand column will when it reaches its operative position under the brush 6, 'in the manner before explained close the series relay contacts of the magnet 52 and the contacts of the magnet 58. 'As this particula record under consideration has only theset rec index-points no further action of the magnets will occur during the downward passage of i the card until the top index-point positions have passed under the brush. When the card reachesthisposition acircuit controlling device, comprising a cam 85, which is driven by the motor in synchronism with the moving card, and contacts 86, is 'arranged to close the circuit 421 momentarily, and as the relay contacts of the magnets 56,

-58 and 63 which are all connected in series with the magnet 71, are still held closed by the series relay magnets 50, 52 and 55, a circuit will be completedthrough these contacts and through the magnet 71, imparting one impulse to the counter 78 and registering on its dial one unit havingthe characteristics native, white, female in accordance with the record-on the card. The cam 14 thereupon, and just before the record-card passes the brushes actuates the contacts 15 to break the circuit/i1, 42 and the armatures all of the magnets are released, the circuit sidered as under the control 0 a record-cardi being held open by the cam 14 until the having its index-points located as indicated edge of the next card passes. under the will be noted that althoughl open. p It will be apparent that the independent circuit controlling device in the circuit 41is, theoretically, not essential since the closing of the circuit may be efiected by'the closing of the last'relay contact to be actuated, but

I I prefer to. close this circuit by contacts acpartment 91 and. 80

verse tuated independently of the record and accessibly located, to avoid deterioration of the relay contacts by sparking.

The closing of the circuit 41 by the contacts 86 will also energize a magnet 87 and release a latchlever 88 which is fixed to' a deflector 89, pivoted in a chute 90, arranged below the ejector rollers 4. The chute 90 is divided by a longitudinal artition into two compartments 91, 92. 4 en the'latch lever 881s released by the movement of the armature of the magnet 87 a spring 93 will throw the .deflector 89 across the compartment 92 before the card reaches the chute, and the card will be guided into the comwill be deposited in a suit-' able receptacle. But if the record be'defective or not pro erly punched, as for in-' stance, if neither tlie position m or fshould be punched in the record under consideration, the counter circuit would remain open atv the co responding relay conta'ctsand the magnet 8 would remain inactive. The deflector. would no'tbeacti'i-ated and the record would be guided into the compartment 92 and conducted to a different receptacle or position, the operative cards thus being groupedseparately from such cards as may be inoperative through defective punching or otherwise. A cam 94 arranged to revolve Kin synch fpnism with the motor resets the latch lever and. deflector after the card en-. ters the chute. I

In the foregoing description I have 'referred more particularly to the diagrammatic views, (Figs. 1 and 3). In order to illustrate moreclearly thearrangement and, synchronous movement of the various parts and the manner of makin the connections to the electrical devicesin-tie'circuit, I have, in Figs. 10 and 11, illustrated one form of apparatus adapted to carry out my invention. In theseviews, A represents the side plates of the machine connected by the transbars a i The, conducting drum 5,

ing with the upper feed rollers 4 toeflect t e' feeding. of the cards), is 'ournaled in the frames A and a driving pulley Bis mounted on the shaft of the drum.. The pulley B is connected by a belt with the motor '11, (Fig. 1). The

(which is here shown as enga crank disks 9, (to which the connecting rods 10 on each side of the machine are connected), are mounted integrally-withgears E on the shaft e, and are formed with gear teeth which mesh with gears a, mounted mtegrally with the gears 0 on the shaft carrying the feed rollers'4 (Fig. 11). The ears 0 mesh with the gears D on the shaft 0 the conducting drum 5 upon which the driving pulley B mounted. The gear 0 shown in Fig. 10 is partly broken away to show the brush 7.

"Transmission gears F, mounted on the shaft 9, are by gears G and H, connected to drive the ejector rollers 4, shown in dotted lines, (Fig. 10 The gears F also mesh with gears J on the shaft j. Thecam 94,

by which the deflector latch lever 88 is reset, is also mounted on the shaft 9'. The cam 14; which controls the contacts 15 in the circuit 40 is mounted on the shaft f. A gear K is mounted on the shaft Io at one side of the machine and meshes" with the gear L on one end of the shaft 25, upon which the switch blades 28 and 29 are secured and from which they are insulated bythe nonconducting bushing l. The commutator sections or rings 18 and 19 are-mounted rigidly, and concentrically with the shaft 25, on cross-bars M extending between the plates A of the machine. The cam 85 which controls the contacts 86 in the circuit 41, is mounted in the shaft lo.

The brushes 6 and 7 are connected with I the conducting segments 20 of their respective commutatlng sections 18 and 19 by means of conducting wires 0 provided with ordinary plug connectors 0, and the conducting contacts 22 of the sections 18 and 19 may beconnected to their. respective magnet 'cir-' cuits, (shownin Fig. 1), throu h the medium of aswitch-board P of or inary construction, but,'.as will be understood, the switch-board is not an essential feature of my invention, since in practice, the magnet circuits may and often would be directly or 7 otherwise connected with the proper conducting contacts. Y

The apparatus shown in Figs. 4-6 operates on the same princi le as just described, the only difference in' etail being that the tabulat-mg devices .controlled by the magnets 7075 are sorting guides instead of register counters. The sorting guides 100, of which six are shown, control the passage of the record-card to seven different compartments.- The seventh or right hand compartment receives the defective records. Each of the other compartments may be assumed to correspond with one of the counters, that is to say the second compartment from the left is arranged to receive the records of native,- white females, and so on. The guides are made of flexible material such as spring metal or may be pivoted at 'theirlower ends. The left hand guide is connected with a reciprocating actuating bar 101', and each of the remaining guides is connected with one each guide tends to carry the guides to the left and a rock-arm 109 is carried back-and forth at each operation of the machine by a cam 110 which is driven by the motor 11 in synchronism with the feeding devices. The rock-arm 109 engages the ends of the bars 101-106 and, except when latched, as hereinafter described, the guides will be reciprocated across the path of movement of the descending card at each revolution of the cam 110. The armature of each of the magnets 70,75 is provided with a latch, one of Whichis mounted at the side of each of the bars 101106. These latches are designated by the numbers 111-116.. Each of the bars 101-106 is provided with a notch 118 which, when the bars and guides are held to the right, lies just under the point of'its latch.

If now the record, punched as shown in Fig. 3, be fed under the brushes, the contacts in series with the magnet 71 will all be closed and when the circuit 11 is closed by the cam 85, the magnet 71 will be energized attracting its armature and throwing the latch 112 into the notch on the bar 102-. Ihe revolution of the earn 110 will then permit the bar 101 and the guide which it controls to move toward the left under the action of its spring 108, but the bar 102 and its guide and all the guides behind it will be held from movement by the-latch 112. A space will thus be opened between the first and second guides and the descendingcard will pass between them into the compartment represent-- ing native, white females. After this occurs the cam 110 in its continued revolution will carry the bar 101 and its, guide back to their initial position ready for another operation.

If by reason of a defective record or if for any reason a 'circuit is not closed through any of the magnets the guides will all move to the left and the record will enter the compartment at the right.

tion, the items on each record should generally bear some well defined relation to each other. That is to say, if one item on the record represents a certain condition, or value or amount, other items would probably or necessarily fall within certain expected and determinable limits, as for instance, in shop cost accounting a given numberof hours work would necessarily imply that wages for the work would be neither above nor below a certain amount. In agri-.

cultural'statistics, to cite another example, the probable maximum and minimum limits of quantity and value could be readily determined from the number of acres under cultivation, and in the compilation of freight statistics there would exist the same necessary or expected relation between items representing commodity, weight, distance and carrying charges, and if any record does not present a necessary or usual collocation of items, it indicates the existence of an error in the compilation or transcription of the data, and requires. an examination of the record, and a comparison with the original 'data, for verification or rejection,

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have illustrated a simple arrangement of apparatus and circuits for use in the verification of the records, by which the existence of any'such abnormal records, containing inconsistent or impossible characteristics .,or items, are rejected or separately grouped so that they may be readily examined and if necessary, compared with the original data.

-For the purpose of facilitating the description of this form of apparatus and its mode of operation I assume that in a given scheme of'tabulation, the records either be.

fore or after tabulation, have been sorted or classified into groups, one of which represents'some condition or occupation in which it would be impossible or unusual that any individual in the group should be a male, or should be less than 15 or more than 59 years of age. The presence in the group, of a record denoting a male or denoting an age outside of the limits mentioned, would prerepresents females as previously explained.

The commutator section 19, to which current is carried bythe conducting brush 7 (Fig.

, 1) is partly shown in Fig. 8. Each of the In the operation of my system of tabulaconducting cont-acts 22 is connected with a series-relay magnet and a relay-magnet. As the construction and operation of these magnets have already been described, I have shown only a diagrammatic re resentation of themin Fig. 8. The series-re ay magnets are represented by the numbers 150 to 159; the relay-magnets are indicated by the numbers 160 to 169, and the relay contacts of the magnets 161 and 167 by the numbers 170 and 171. The magnets are connected in a circuit.175' and the contacts 161 and 167 are connected in series in a circuit 176, (Fig. 9). For the sake of clearness, I have illustrated these circuits in separate diagrams as heretofore explained in describing'the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and The commutator contacts 22 of the commutator section 19 represent, in inverse orde'r, as before explained, the index-point positions of the middle column of the record.

That is to say, the top contact represents males, the next one females, the third contact from the top, ages under years-and so on. The top contact is by means of suitable conductors and switching devices arranged in circuit with the magnets 150 and 160,

but in the diagram these magnets and their contacts are shown disconnected by a switch 180. The second contact is similarly connected with its magnets. 151 and 161-, but the switch 181 controlling these two magnets is closed. Each set of magnets, comprising a series-relay magnet and a relay-magnet, is-- similarly arranged in circuit with its coinmutator contact and the switches 180 to 189, controlling these circuits, are all shown open with the exception of 181 and 187. The' the circuits to the relay magnets. But it will of course be understood that in actual practice, these switches ma be omitted and the electrical connection '0 the proper magnets effected bydirect connections or conductors,

the other magnets or contacts being entirely disconnected.

An independent circuit-controlling device,.comprising contacts 191, is arranged in the circuit 176 controlled by the relay-contacts, and the cam 192 actuated by the motor 11 is employed to momentarily close the contacts 191 after the relay-contacts 17 O and 171 close, and before the circuit 175 is broken by the cam 178. The closing of this circuit energizes a magnet, 193, controlling theopcration of the tabulating device, which in this particular form of the invention is a pivoted deflector 194 actuated to guide the card into either of the compartments 195 or 196, accordin to the position of the deflector. The deflector 194 is normally held in the osition shown in Fig. 9 by the armatnre 19 and latch lever 198, but if a record having an index-point at the position f,.and at any of the positions representing ages from 5 to 59 years be fed't rough the machine the contacts 170 and 171 in the circuit 17 6 will be closed, and will be held closed by the action of the series-relay magnets 151, 157, until the circuit 176 is closed by the contacts 191 and cam 192. The closing of the circuit will energize the magnet 193 and its armature will be moved to release the lever 198 and deflector 194 which, under the action of the spring 199 will be moved into the position shown in dotted lines and the record will be guided into the compartment 195. The circuit 175 will then be broken by the cam 178, and the relay-contacts 170 and 171 will open, the armature 197 will be released and the cam 200 will reset the latch lever and the deflector. If however, the age index-point be in a position representing an age either above or below the predetermined limits, or if the position representing females be not punched, the record will not close both of the relay-contacts 170 and 171, the circuit 176 will remain open, the magnet will not operate to release the deflector and the record will be guided into the compartment. 196. At the conclusion of a run, the abnormal records will all be separated from the normal records and grouped in the compartment 196, whence they can be removed and verified or corrected.

Other arrangements of circuits and apparatus will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and other suitable forms of switch devices orcircuit connectors may be employed to effect the desired connections between the circuit controlling device controlled by the record and the actuating magnet or magnets.

I have in referring to the fact that many modifications may be made in the arrangement ofcircuits and connections also stated that mechanically operating devices may be substituted for the relay magnets illustrated,

and in Fig. 7 I show one. form of such mechanically acting devices. In this construction the armatures 130 of the magnets 131 serve as latches to hold spring actuated con-. tacts 132 out of contact with their opposing members. When a circuit is completed through the coils of any of the magnets its armature releases a contact 132 which contacts with its opposing member and closes a circuit through the relay m'a et coils 136, holding it closed while thecard passes under the brushes and until the cam 133 actuates the resetting bar 134 to relatch the contact 132, by means of studs 135 on the resetting bar which engage the contact 132 and carry it back into engagement with its armature as the bar134 is reciprocated.

The particular apparatus which I have shown and described as a typical embodimentof my invention is arranged to operate on open circuits, but it will of course be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the employment of normally open circuits although for obvious reasons I prefer that arrangement.

I claim:

1. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts in circuit with said magnet, a rec- 0rd having index-point positions arranged in column, the difierent positions of a column representing difl'erent characteristics, a record controlled circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point positions of a column and means, including saidcircuit controlling device for actuating .each contact '.in said magnet circuit according to the location of the index-point in its column, to permit the actuation of said tabulating device when the contacts controlling the same have been actuated.

'2. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts in circuit with said magnet, a record-card having index-point positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point positions of a column and means, including said circuit controlling device foractuating each contact. in said magnet circuit accordin to the location of the index-point in its co umn, and means independent of said cir cuit controlling device for controlling the circuit through said contacts in the magnet circuit.

3. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts .in circuit with said magnet, a record-card having index-point positions arranged in column, the different positions of a column representing different characteristics, a record-controlled circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point positions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit controlling device, and means, including said circuit controlling device for actuating each contact in said magnet circuit according to the location of the index-point in its column, to permit the actuation of said tabulating device when the contacts controlling the same have been actuated.

4. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts in circuit with said magnet, a record-card having index-point positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point p0 s'itions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column succes sively to sald circuit controlling device, means, including said circuit controlling device for actuating each contact in said magnet'circuit according to the location of the index-point in its column, and means independent of said circuit controlling device for controlling the magnet circuit through said contacts. a

5. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls the operation of said device, a plurality of contacts in said magnet cir-' cuit, a relay magnet for operating each of said contacts, a record having index-pointpositions arranged in column the different positions of a column representing different characteristics, a record-controlled circuit controlling device which is common to all the index-point positions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit controlling device, and means for successively connecting the relay magnets with said-circuit controlling device.

6. In a system such as described, the com- .bination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls the operation of said device, a plurality of contacts in said magnet circuit, a relay magnet for operating each of said contacts, a record-card having indexpoint positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to all the index-point positions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit connecting the relay magnets with said circuit controlling device, and means, independent of said circuit controlling device,

for controllingthe circuit through said contacts.

7. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls the operation of said device, a plurality of contacts in said magnet circuit, arelay magnet for operatin each of said contacts, a record having in exoint positions arranged in column, the di erent positions of a column representing difi'erent characteristics, a circuit controlling device which is common to all the index-point positions of a column; means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit controlling device, a plurality of contacts each representing an index-point position of a column, connections between each of said contacts and a relay magnet, and means for connectin said circuit controlling device with each of said last mentioned contacts successively.

8. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls the operation of said device, a. plurality of contacts in said'magne't circu1t, a relay magnet for operating each of said contacts, a record-card having indexpoint positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to all the index-point positions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit controlling device, a plurality of contacts one for each index-point position of a column, v connections between each of said contacts and a relay magnet, means for connecting controlling device, means for successively through the relay contacts.

said circuit contr'ollingdevice with each of said last mentioned contacts successively, and means, independent of said circuit controlling device for controlling the circuit 9. n a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts in circuit with said magnet, .a record having index-point positions arranged in column, the difi'erent positions of a column representin different characteristics, a circuit control ing device which is common to the index-point positions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit controlling device, means, including said circuit controlling device for actuating each contact in said magnet circuit according to the location of the index-point in its column, a relay magnet for operating said contacts, and means intermediate the circuit controlling device and the relay magnet for controlling the operation of the latter according to a predetermined position of the record-card and said circuit controlling device.

11. In a system such as described, the

- combination of atabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurahty of contacts in circuit with said magnet, a record-card having index-point positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point positions of a column, means for presenting the index-point positions of a column successively to said circuit controlling device, means, including said circuit controlling device for actuating each contact in said magnet circuit according to the location of the index-point in its column, a relay magnet for operating said contacts, means intermediate thecircuit controlling device and the relaymagnet for controlling the operation of the latter according to a predetermined position of the record-card and said circuit controlling device, and means independent of said circuit controlling device for controlling the circuit through the relay contacts.

12. In a system such as described, the combination with a tabulating device, of a magnet for operating the same, a record-card having index-points, a plurality of circuit closing means in the magnet circuit and means for connecting said circuit closing means-whereby the closing of a circuit by any one of a plurality of index-points within predetermined limits will actuate said magnet. 1

13. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its-operation, a plurality ,of

contacts in said magnet circuit, a recordcard having index-points, and means, including switch devices or connections, and a circuit controlled by the index-points,for effecting the actuation or control of a single contact by any one of a predetermined number of index-points.

14. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls the operation of said device, a plurality of contacts in said magnet circult, a relay magnet for operating each of said contacts, a record-card having indexpoint positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point positions of acolumn, and connections by which a single relay contact is actuated by an index-point located in any one of a plurality of predetermined indexpoint positions.

15. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls the operation of said device, a plurality of contacts in said magnet circuit, arelay magnet for operating each of said contacts, a record-card having indexpoint positions arranged in columns, a circuit controlling device which is common to the index-point positions of a column, connections by which a single relay contact'is actuated by an index-point located in any one of a plurality of predetermined indexpoint positions, and means independent of said circuit controlling device for controlling the circuit through the relay contacts.

16. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts in circuit with said magnet, a record-card having index-point positions each representing a different characteristic or condition arranged in columns, a circuit con- .trolling device common to the index-point positions of a colunm, means for feeding the record-card to present the index-point positions of a column successively to the circuit controlling device, means for closing each of said contacts at a predetermined oint in the movement of the record, means or holding' the contacts closed for a variable period,

the length of which is determined by the location of the index-point, means for actuattacts,-

17. In a system such as described, the com;- bination of; aatabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a, lurality of contacts each. representing a di, erent char. acteristic or condition 1nv c rcu t w tlrsaid magnet, a record-card, a circuit controlling device for establishing the, control of said contacts, means independent of the circuit controlling device for maintaining such con-- trol, and means for releasing such control.

18. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulatingdevice, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of cont-acts each representing a different characteristic or condition in circuit with said magnet, a record-card, a circuit controlling device for establishing the control of said contacts, means independent of the circuit controlling device for maintaining such control, means for actuating said magnet, and means for releasing the control of said contacts.

19. In a system such as described, the combination of counters and circuits, a plurality of contacts in each counter circuit, each contact representing a diflerent char acteristic of the unit or item, a record-card provided with index-point positions representing diiferent characteristics, circuitcontrolling devices common to a plurality of index-point positions, means controlled by. the circuit controlling device for actuating the contacts in the counter circuits, and

means controlled by said contacts for actuating the counters.

20. In a system such as described, the combination of counters for separately rege istering units according to their characteristics, a plurality of contacts, each representing a characteristic of the unit, in each counter circuit, a record-card having an in.- dex-point position for each characteristic arranged in column, the different positions of a column representing difi'erent characteristics, a record cont-rolled device controllable by an index-point formed in any position of a column, means for presenting the index-- point positions of a column successively to said record controlled device, means for actuating said contacts in accordance with the location of an index-point, and means controlled by said contacts for actuating the counters.

21. Ina system such as described, the combination of counters for separately registering units according to their characteristics, a plurality of contacts, each representing a characteristic of the unit, in each counter circuit, a record-card having an index-point position for each characteristic arranged in columns, a record controlled device controllable by an index-point formed I said V in any position ofa column, means for'pre- ;;senting the; index-pointpositionsof at col accordance ,with thelocation of an indexcontrolled device for closing the counter circults through the relays.

combination of a tabulatingdevicaa magvice,

each of said contacts,a record-cardhaving index-point positions, a circuit controlling. device actuated by an record, and connections. between the relay. magnet-s and the circuit controlling device, by which a single relay-contact is actuated by an index-point in any of a plurality of predetermined index-point posit-ions having differentcharacteristics.

23. In a system such as described, the combinationof a tabulating device, a magnet which controlsits operation, a plurality of contacts in circuit" with said magnet,-arecord-card having index-points, a circuit controlling device which is rendered operative by the index-points to actuate-said contacts, and means inde endent of said circuit controlling device r closing a circuit through said contacts.

24. In a system such as described, the combination of a tabulating device, a magnet which controls its operation, a plurality of contacts, eachrepresenting a different V umn successively tosaidrecord controlled dev1ce,.means for actuating said. contactsi-n 70 point andmeans ndependent of the record-,

22. In ,a system such as described the Index-point on the characteristic, in circuit with said magnet,

a record-card having index-points, a circuit controlling device rendered operative by the index-points to actuate the cont-acts repre-. sented by the index-points and a second circuit controlling device free from the con trol of the record-card for closing a circuit through said contacts to operate said magnet.

25. In a system such as described, the combination witha tabulating device and an operating magnet, a plurality of contacts in circuit with said magnet, actuating means for establishing the control of said contacts, and means for maintaining such control after they are free from the control of the actuating means.

26. In a system such as described, the combination with a tabulating device and an operating magnet, a plurality of relay contacts in circuit with said magnet, means for actuating the relay magnets, and means for maintaining a circuit through said magnets after they are free from the control of the actuating means.

27. In a system such as described, the combination with a tabulating device and an operating magnet therefor, of a plurality of contacts in sand 'magnet circuit, actuating 5 netwhlch controls the operation of said ,de- 7 aplurality of contacts in circuit withmagnet, a relay-magnet for operating an operating magnet, of a plurality of con-' tacts in said magnet circuit,'a relay magnetmeans for said contacts and a series relay magnet for operating said actuating means, means for operating said series relay mag net, and means independent of said operating means for maintaining the control'of the series relay ma net.

28. In a system such as described, the combination with a tabulating device, and

- of contacts in said c1rcuit, record feeding means, a motor for operating the same, a circuit controlling device actuated by said motor for controlling the circuit through saidcontacts and a record-controlled c1rcuit controlling device for actuating said contacts.

30. In a system such as described the com bination of counters and counter circuits,

gplurality of contacts, each representing a erent characteristic of the unit or item, in each counter circuit, a record-card provided with index-point positions each representing one of said characteristics, circuitcontrolllng devices each of which is common to a plurality of said index-point positrolling devices for actuating the contacts in the counter circuits, means controlled by said contacts -for actuating the counters,,a plurality of record receiving compartments, means, also controlled by saidcontacts, for determining which compartment shall receive the record and means for delivering the record to such com artment.

31.-In apparatus o the character described,v the combination of a record card, a contact device controlled thereby and forming a terminal for an electric circuit, and a rotatin contact member forming an opposite terminal for the circuit. 32. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a record card, a contact device controlled thereby, and forming a terminal for anelectric circuit,,a rotatin contact member forming an opposite termmal for the circuit and means, com.- prising feed rollers, for feeding the card between said terminals.

33. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with a record card, of a contact device controlled thereby, a rotating conducting member and rotating feeding means cooperating with said rotating conducting member to feed the cards between the latter and the record-controlled contact device.

HERMAN HOLLERITH.

Witnesses:

'Fmmons PEY'ION SMITH, CLARENCE E. LATIMER.

, tions and which are actuated by'the indexi points, means controlled by the clrcuit-con- 

